Choosing a Large Bedside Cot

newborn bedside cot cots (also known as co-sleepers and bassinets) are designed to let parents sleep close to their baby at night without risk of SIDS. They are only recommended for up to 6 months, when your baby is ready to transition to an actual cot.

MFM home tester Mehack was impressed that this model has a lift-off bassinet you can use around the house and the ability to rock manually. It was also easy to assemble and came in its own bag for easy storage.

Size

Cots and cots differ in size, with cots being smaller than cot beds. They also can be converted into toddler beds, while they are typically used until three years old. older. If you're considering a wooden cot, you'll find two sizes available - standard and large - both of which will convert into a toddler bed or cot beds. If you wish for your child (or children) to be able to sleep in the larger cot, it's a great idea to choose the larger size.

MFM mum home tester Jasmine liked that this bedside cot was slightly larger than a Moses basket but not too big for her baby's room. It's easy to lift her baby in and out for feeding or calming and the quality is top-notch, compared with many she's seen that are flimsy.

Emily who is a home tester, loves the versatility of the Maxi-Cosi Lora that is a lift-off, portable bassinet. It also is a rock. It also comes with an incline for reflux and a machine washable breathable liner. It was also shortlisted for the 2021 Mother&Baby awards for the Best Cot Crib, Crib, or Moses Basket. Unlike some International or European cot brands The Lora can be fitted with South African cot mattresses so you don't need to buy an entirely new mattress each time your baby grows. It will require a specific bedding set (60x120cm). Here's the perfect mattress for your cot.

Height

When selecting a bedside crib pick one that can be adjusted to a suitable height for you. It should also be able to be lowered to the ground so that you can lift your baby up towards you for Rocking bedside Crib night feeds or to soothe. This feature is especially helpful if you're recovering from a C-section. For example the Next2me and Tutti Bambini cots can be adjusted to a height of 58cm while the Snuzpod 3 goes up to 63cm and the Knuma huddle up to 70cm.

Another thing to think about is the height you would like to set for the base of your cot to be. Some mums find that it is easier to lift their babies from their standard Moses baskets if the base is situated at the lowest level, while others prefer a higher height to give them greater stability. The Joie Roomie Glide is a well-liked option, with one of our mom testers stating that it has an easy-to-use collapsible side that you can press down at the touch of one button.

Be aware that a bedside or bassinet is only suitable until your baby can hold their head without assistance, usually at approximately 6 months. This is because of the risk of being suffocated. It is also important to be aware that when your child is old enough to convert an existing bedside or bassinet into a cot, they will have to take the sides off when they are ready to do this. This will prevent them from getting out or falling out of the bed.

Design

There are many styles of bedside cribs, from basic to extravagant. The most luxurious models could include features such as a built-in nightlight, a soothing centre that plays music and sounds and offers two levels of vibrations to help soothe baby back to sleep, or a swivelling base that allows you to reach your child for feedings. Certain models can be converted into the toddler bed or cot bed (or both) when your child is ready for their own bed.

The Tutti Bambini CoZee Air for instance, won Bronze at the 2021 Mother and Baby Awards for the Best Cot, Moses Basket or Crib category. It features a swivelling bottom that lets you take your baby to the crib and move them to the opposite side of the crib without getting out of bed. This is ideal for new mums who are recovering from Caesarean births or who need to stay in bed for longer periods of time. MFM mom home tester Jasmine loved this feature, stating that it was simple to use and made reaching her baby much easier particularly after her c-section.

Another option is the Chicco Next2me Magic, which has won Gold at the 2021 Mother&Baby Awards in the category of Best Cot, Crib or Moses Basket. It also is equipped with an easy-to-clean liner, reflux incline, and rocking bedside crib feature. It's larger than other cribs for bed that we tested, but it folds down into its bag for travel, making it a small size when not in use.

Leya, MFM mum home tester also praised the bedside travel cot crib's functionality. She said it was designed to be used by parents and babies. It is a fantastic design that is very maneuverable and is extremely durable. The swivelling base of the bassinet is amazing as it means you can move the bassinet side to side, and one of its sides can be let down to ease access - particularly for new mums who are recovering from their C-sections,' she added.

Safety

The main safety characteristic of a bedside cot is that it can be adjusted or moved to allow parents to reach their child when they need to feed, comfort them, or change their nappies. This makes it ideal for mothers who are recovering from an C-section. You should choose an option that lets you lower the sides of the bed with a simple button press. This will allow you to easily lift your child without getting out of bed. This is especially important as your baby gets older and more mobile. Avoid adding anything that could increase the risk of suffocation or injury, such as duvets and pillowcases which could cause your baby to overheat.

The NPR of the CPSC NPR includes 24 incidents that are attributed to product-related issues like gaps between the bedside cot 6 months plus sleeper (adult bed) and the bedside sleeper (12 incidents), fabric-sided enclosed openings (11) and consumer disassembly (6 incidents).

In its NPR in its NPR, the CPSC looked into the possibility of additional requirements for bedside co sleeper cot sleepers, such as the requirement that they satisfy the minimum side height requirement for bassinets, or at the very least, meet the maximum height requirement for the side rail. However the CPSC determined that these requirements are not efficient or feasible to reduce the amount of instances in which infants were entrapped between a bedside sleeper and an adult bed.

The majority of the incidents covered in the NPR concerned multi-use bedside sleepers that can be transformed into other modes, such as bassinets or play yards. A number of commenters suggested that the CPSC add a second provision to the proposed rule for bedside travel crib sleepers with multiple uses that would allow them to meet minimum side height requirements for bassinets using an attachment that is removable. This attachment can be permanently connected or removed when the product is not being used as a bassinet for babies.

The CPSC is examining these and other comments that were received in response to its NPR regarding bedside sleepers. The Commission will take into account these comments when deciding on the final rule which is expected to come out in November 2021.